Safe Water Sports, the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Organization presented, on Tuesday, June 2, at the Ministry of Health, their joint awareness campaign for the prevention of drownings, with a special focus on citizens over the age of 60, ahead of the summer season. The initiative, whose central message is that drowning prevention is a public health issue, aims to provide timely information, raise awareness and educate citizens, so that their time at sea is accompanied by greater knowledge, caution and safety.

According to the available data from the Safe Water Sports Accident Observatory, which operates in cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Hellenic Police, an average of 373 people lose their lives in Greek seas every year, with approximately 80% of these incidents involving people over the age of 60. These figures highlight the need for targeted prevention actions for an age group that appears to be particularly vulnerable.

As part of the campaign “Sea Safety for People 60+”, Safe Water Sports, with the support of the Ministry of Health and EODY, has created informative material, a television and radio spot, as well as useful guidelines for safe swimming. Information will be provided through actions in Senior Citizens’ Centers and other places frequently visited by older citizens, while the campaign’s special video will also be shown in healthcare facilities, medical offices and pharmacies.

At the same time, as announced by the Minister of Health, IDIKA will be used to send SMS and emails to citizens over the age of 60, with the aim of ensuring that the campaign message and the relevant spot reach as many people as possible directly, at the start of the summer swimming season.

The Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, emphasized that the data on drownings in Greek seas clearly show that prevention and proper information can save lives. He noted that the Ministry of Health supports the initiative of Safe Water Sports and EODY to inform citizens over the age of 60, stressing that even if one life is saved through this campaign, the result will be significant. He also announced the dispatch of informative messages through IDIKA, with the aim of immediately raising awareness among this specific age group.

The President of the Scientific Council of EODY, Professor Theodoros Vasilakopoulos, underlined that drowning prevention is not limited only to following safe swimming guidelines, as some incidents may be linked to underlying medical causes. He referred to the importance of the Ministry of Health’s “Prolamvano” prevention program, which can contribute to the early diagnosis of health problems and, consequently, to the reduction of accidents at sea. He also described the partnership with Safe Water Sports as particularly important for strengthening prevention in Greece.

The President of Safe Water Sports, Panagiotis Paschalakis, highlighted the importance of the collaboration with the Ministry of Health and EODY, pointing out that drowning prevention is a public health issue. He stressed that the aim of the campaign is to ensure that essential information reaches every relevant point, from pharmacies to hospitals, where older citizens receive information and support, in order to reverse the negative statistical trend and strengthen a culture of safe behavior at sea.

The central message of the campaign is:

“Our summers together are unforgettable. Let’s not let them end before they are over.”

The campaign reminds citizens of the basic “don’ts” of safe swimming:

Do not swim alone.
Do not swim vertically away from the shore.
Do not enter the water suddenly.
Do not swim to the point of exhaustion.
Always consult your doctor before starting your summer swims.

The collaboration between Safe Water Sports, the Ministry of Health and EODY strengthens a national effort to inform, prevent and protect human life in the aquatic environment, highlighting that safety at sea is everyone’s responsibility.

Watch the awareness spot here:

https://safewatersports.com/el/component/yendifvideoshare/video/87-e-safe-water-sports-2025-3